Packing device



A. L. SHERWOOD 2,431,775

PACKING DEVICE Fi led -Jan. 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 2, 1947. SHERWOOD 2,431,775

PACKING DEVICE Filed Jan. 19; 1945 2 sheets-sheer 2' INVENTOR. fik/aifir 4. .f/mewaa Patented Dec. 2, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FACKING DEVICE :ii'lbert'n sherwdea, 'Kalamaz'o'o, Mien, fas'signo'r to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Michqa corporation ofMichigan =Application January 19, 1945, Serial Nana-579 10 Claims.

This invention rlatesto improvements in packing device. I V r The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a packing device for use in the packing of containers which greatly facilitates the manipulation of the container, notonly'supporting it in packing position but while it is being closed, and permitting it to be inverted without discharging the contents through a window opening in the top. p v

Second, to provide a device having these advantag'es which is very light in weight, expedites both the handling and packing orfillin-g of the con tainer, and permits the facing er the contents for exposure through an opening in the top,

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is definedin the claims. v

A structure which embodies the'features f the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanyme; drawing, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a perspective view o f a structure embodying my invention with a filled container in inverted position therein prior to the closing of the bottom. I

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the mann'er of releasing the filled container after-it has been inverted to upright position. t

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the container in position in the packing device with the bottom closures in closed position. t Fig. 4 is a-horiz'oiital'seotion on'ime 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the wall support and clamping member in container enga ing position in full lines and the retracted posinenshewn by dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blankfor the container illustrated in the fiat.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form or embodiment of my invention with a container illustrated in partially engaged position by dotted lines and illustratingthe relation of the parts as the container is being inserted into the device.

Fig". '7 is a vertical sectional view with the parts in position illustrated in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation with the container in supported position in the device and its bottom flaps closed.

The embodiments of the invention illustrated are adapted foruse in thepacking of downwardly tapered containers. The particular container i1- lustratd is formed of one piece of container stock and comprises a top l having a window opening 2 therein 'for the display oi contents, downwardly tapered-side Walls} hingcdly eonhectedat I-to-the edges of the tested inner b ttom ercisnr fiaps 5 having interlocking ton'guess and c ting outer bottom closure -flaps"! and 8. The flap 1 is provided with a tongue 9 adapted to engage a slot II] in the flap or closure member 8. Qile pair or the side walls isprovid'ed with corner flaps l I. The bottom closure flaps are such toprovide a sustaining bottom. The structure illustrated is substantially that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the patent to Rutledge No. 2,110,681.

The packing device of my invention comprises a plate-like base 12 having angularly related edges [3 provided with upturned inwardly inclined eontainer wall supporting member's Id. "The adjacent edges of -these members are Spaced to receive a corner of the container as is best shown in Fig. 4. The upper ends of the wall supporting members M are outturned at Hi to facilitate the insertion of the container. I u n The base memberis provided with a pair of upstanding ears l6 located opposite the mem bers M. The I-shaped container supporting and clamping member I! has dc'zwnturned ears l8 re ceiving the pintle or pivot l9 carried by the ears [6. The arms 20 of the member I! are angular]; disposed to engage adjacent walls of a container disposed in diagonal opposition to the members M on the base l2 as-illustrated in the drawing. In this position thecontainer is clamped upon the base and is supported in position to receive the product to b packed 2|,- Such as vegeta les, fruit or the like. The base plate constitutes a facing plate for the contents, that is, a racing iayer may be arranged in the inverted container to constitute the top exposed layer when the container is inverted. The 'i'nember I! is provided with an inclined body portion 22 which'serv'es a finger piece facilitating the swinging of the member I! to retracted or disengaged position for leasing the container.

A further advantaee ofthe device is that it supports the container in efiective position to facilitate the closure of the bottom flaps. After the bottom flaps are 7 closed the filled container is inverted to upright position and released from the device. 4 4

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I show an embodiment of the invention in which the member H is provided with a part 23 corresponding to the finger piece 22 but disposed so that it is engaged by the con tainer as the container is placed in the-device as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and automatically swung to actuated or container engaging position as shown in Fig. 8. In both embodiments stops 24 are provided -for --limiting the movement of the swingable member, In the embodiment of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the stop serves the double function of limiting the outward or retracting movement of the member I! so that when in its retracted position it is in proper position to be engaged by the container as it is inserted into the device as shown in Figs. 6 and '7.

I have not attempted to illustrate other embodiments or adaptations of the invention as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A packing device for containers including a top and downwardly tapering side walls hingedly connected to the edges of the top and provided at their lower edges with interlocking bottom closures, comprising a base plate having angularly related adjacent edges thereof provided with upwardly projecting inwardly inclined container wall support members, the adjacent edges of said wall support members being spaced to receive the corner of a container inverted upon the base plate, said base plate also being provided with upwardly projecting pivot ears positioned oppositely of said wall support members, and a V- shaped wall support and clamping member pivotally mounted upon said ears and adapted to be swung inwardly into supporting and retaining engagement with adjacent walls of a container in opposition to said wall support members to support a container in inverted position for packing from the bottom thereof and to facilitate the closing of its bottom closure members and the reversing of the container, said wall support and clamp ing member being provided with a finger piece facilitating the swinging of the member to release the container with the container in an upright position;

2. A packing device for containers including a top and downwardly tapering side walls hingedly connected to the edges of the top and provided at their lower edges with interlocking bottom closures, comprising a base plate having angularly related adjacent edges thereof provided with upwardly projecting inwardly inclined container wall support members, the adjacent edges of said wall support members being spaced to receive the corner of a container inverted upon the base plate, said base plate also being provided with upwardly projecting pivot ears positioned oppositely of said wall support members, and a V shaped wall support and clamping member pivotally mounted upon said ears and adapted to be swung inwardly into supporting and retaining engagement with adjacent walls of a container in opposition to said wall support members to support a container in inverted position for packing from the bottom thereof and to facilitate the closing of its bottom closure members and the reversin of the container.

3. A packing device for containers including a top and side walls hingedly connected to the edge of the top and provided at their lower edges with a bottom closure, comprising a base plate having angularly related adjacent edges provided with upwardly projecting container wall support members, said base plate also being provided with upwardly projecting pivot ears positioned oppositely of said wall support members, and a wall supporting and clamping member pivotally mounted upon said ears and disposed diagonally opposite of said wall support members to be swung diagonally inwardly into supporting and retaining engagement with adjacent walls of a container in diagonal opposition to said wall support members to support a container in inverted position for packing from the bottom thereof and to facilitate the closing of its bottom closure members and the reversing of the container, said wall supporting and clamping member being provided with a finger piece facilitating the swinging of the member to release the container when the device is inverted.

4. A packing device for containers including a top and side walls hingedly connected to the edge of the top and provided at their lower edges with a bottom closure, comprising a base plate having angularly related adjacent edges provided with upwardly projecting container wall support members, said base plate also being provided with upwardly projecting pivot ears positioned oppositely of said wall support members, and a wall supporting and'clamping member pivotally mounted upon said ears and disposed diagonally opposite of said wall support members to be swung diagonally inwardly into supporting and retaining engagement with adjacent walls of a container in diagonal opposition to saidwall support members to support a container in inverted position for packing from the bottom thereof and to facilitate the closing of its bottom closure members and the reversing of the container.

5. A packing device for containers including a top and side walls, and a bottom closure, comprising a base having upwardly projecting container wall support members associated to support adj acent Walls of a container inverted upon the base, and a container wall support and clamping member swingably mounted upon said base diagonally oppositely of the aforesaid wall support members to be swung diagonally inwardly into supporting and retaining engagement with adjacent walls of a container to coact in diagonal opposition to said wall support members to support the Walls of a container in inverted position for filling from the bottom thereof and to facilitate the closing thereof and the reversing of the container, said wall support and clamping member being provided with a finger piece positioned relative to its pivot to facilitate the retracting of the member to release the filled container when the device is inverted.

6. A packing device for containers including a top and side walls, and a bottom closure, comprising a base having upwardly projecting container wall support members associated to support adjacent walls of a container inverted upon the base, and a container wall support and clamping member swingably mounted upon said base diagonally oppositely of the aforesaid wall supports to be swung diagonally inwardly into supporting andretaining engagement with adjacent walls of a container to coact in diagonal opposition to said wall support members to support the 'walls of a container in inverted position for filling from the bottom thereof and to facilitate the closing thereof and the reversing of the container.

7. A packing device for containers having a bottom closure permitting the filling of the container from the bottom thereof, comprising a base having angularly related container support members, the adjacent edges of which are spaced to receive a corner of a container inverted upon the base plate between them, and a swingably mounted wall supporting and retaining member disposed on said base diagonally opposite from said angular related support members and having angularly related wall engaging elements adapted when in operative position to engage adjacent walls of a container in diagonal opposition to the said wall supports and coacting to support the walls of the container during the packing of the container and the closing of the bottom and facilitating the inverting of the packed container, the packed container being released by the retraction of said pivoted member.

8. A packing device for containers having a bottom closure permitting the filling of the container from the bottom thereof, comprising a base plate having angularly related container support members, and a swingably mounted wall supporting and retaining member disposed on said base diagonally opposite from said angular related support members and having angularly related wall engaging elements adapted when in operative position to engage adjacent walls of a container in diagonal opposition to the said wall supports and coacting to support the walls of the container during the packing of the container and the closing of the bottom and facilitating the inverting of the packed container, the packed container being released by the retraction of said pivoted member.

9. A packing device for containers having a bottom closure permitting the filling of the container from the bottom thereof, comprising a base having angularly related container support members, the adjacent edges of which are spaced to receive a corner of a container inverted upon the base between them, and a pivotally mounted container clamping member having angularly disposed wall engaging elements adapted when in operative position to engage adjacent walls of the container in diagonal opposition to the said wall supports and coacting to support the walls of the container during the packing of the container and the manipulation of its bottom closure and facilitating the inverting of the packed container, said member having a plate-like body portion disposed eccentrically relative to its pivot and projecting inwardly of the pivot when the member is in retracted position to be engaged by a container engaged with said container support members as it is thrust downwardly upon the base and thereby swing the wall engaging elements diagonally inwardly into container engaging position, the packed container being released by the retraction of said pivoted member.

10. A packing device for containers having a bottom closure permitting the filling of the container from the bottom thereof comprising a base having angularly related container support members, and a pivotally mounted container clamping member having container engaging means adapted when in operative position to engage the container in diagonal opposition to the said support members, said clamping member having a portion projecting inwardly when said container engaging means is in retracted position to be engaged by a container engaged with said container support members as the container is thrust downwardly upon the base and thereby swing the container engaging means into engaging position, the packed container being released by the retraction of said container engaging means.

ALBERT L. SHERWOOD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 659,949 Arrasmith Oct. 16, 1900 670,525 Arrasmith Mar. 26, 1901 1,810,257 Sheller June 16, 193.1 2,110,681 Rutledge Mar. 8, 1938 

